Rohit, a resident of Guntur, was pursuing his PhD in society studies for the past two years. He allegedly committed suicide on Sunday by hanging himself at the hostel.

In a tragic incident, a Dalit PhD scholar was found hanging at a central university's hostel room in Hyderabad.

Rohit, a resident of Guntur, was pursuing his PhD in society studies for the past two years. He allegedly committed suicide on Sunday by hanging himself at the hostel.

"V Rohit (around 26) was found hanging in the hostel room. He was among the five research scholars who were suspended by Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in August last year and also one of the accused in the case of assault on a student leader," Cyberabad Police Commissioner C V Anand told PTI.

Further investigation in the case is on.

Earlier, the five research scholars were suspended from the hostel for rest of their study period for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader.

Meanwhile, mild tension prevailed on the campus after scores of students gathered and held demonstration along with Rohit's body and raised slogans.

Protests were also held in the Jawaharlal Nehru University in the national capital. The students of JNU argued that his death is a result of political vindictiveness by the ABVP, and demanded that a case of murder be registered against the Vice Chancellor of the University and a CBI probe be conducted into the incident.

HRD ministry orders probe

Union Minister for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya has been charged with abatement to suicide. A case has been filed by Hyderabad police under section 306A against Dattatreya, University of Hyderabad Vice Chancellor Apparao, ABVP activist Susheel Kumar and his brother Vishnu.

The HRD ministry has meanwhile announced a 2-member panel to probe the case.